Cleaning of treatment plant continues until spring

The cleanup of a Camp Lejeune water treatment plant, after the discovery of 12 pounds of elemental mercury in the plantís pipes, isnít expected to be finished until the spring.

AMANDA WILCOX Daily News Staff

The cleanup of a Camp Lejeune water treatment plant, after the discovery of 12 pounds of elemental mercury in the plantís pipes, isnít expected to be finished until the spring.

Diversified Service Contracting out of Dunn has been awarded a $2.9-million contract to clean up the Hadnot Point water treatment plant aboard Camp Lejeune. Theyíve been tasked with removing any traces of elemental mercury, as well as cleaning up the 3,000 linear feet of the plantís piping, clearing water reservoirs and removing and replacing filter media in the filter beds and water softening units, according to base officials.

Cleanup is expected to be complete March 7, base officials said.

On Sept. 15, during routine maintenance of the plantís piping, workers discovered non-soluble elemental mercury and, as a precautionary measure, took the Hadnot Point water treatment plant offline for a comprehensive inspection and cleanup.

While the Hadnot Point water treatment plant remains offline, the areas normally serviced by Hadnot Point will be receiving their water supply from the Holcomb Boulevard water treatment plant until the cleanup is finished.

Base officials said once the Hadnot Point plant is cleaned, the Holcomb Boulevard plant will be taken offline for inspection.

Camp Lejeune water treatment plants began being tested for mercury in 1985. Since testing began, mercury has never been detected in the drinking water and tests conducted immediately after the discovery of mercury in the plant showed no mercury in the water, according to base officials.

Contact Daily News Military Reporter Amanda Wilcox at 910-219-8453 or amanda.wilcox@jdnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AWilcox21.